Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



v J. ASTON; Breech-Loading Fire-Arms. N0. 138,837. Patented May 13, I873.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES ASTON, or HYTHE, ENGLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 138,837, dated May 13, 1873; application filed September 6, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES ASTON, of Hythe, in the county of Kent, England, have invented an Improvement in Breech-Loading Fire- Arms, of which the following is a specification This invention relates to that class of breechloading fire-arms which are provided with vertically-sliding breech-blocks; and the principal featureconsists in the provision of devices for cocking the hammer ready for firing simultaneously with the descent of the breech-block.

The devices employed for accomplishing this result consist of a bifurcated claw-lever, located within the breech-chamber, and provided with a swivel or forked stirrup at its rear end, which engages with a hooked rear prolongation of the hammer, so that when said claw-lever is depressed by means of an. external lever-handle applied to its fulcrumpin the breech-block will be lowered for exposing the rear of the barrel, and the hammer brought to a full-cock by means of the stirrup on the claw-lever, in which position it is retained until the breech-block is elevated, when it is disengaged for exploding the charge by means of the ordinary trigger.

In the drawing, Figure 1 represents acentral longitudinal section of part of a fire-arm having my invention applied thereto; Fig; 2, a sectional side view of the same, representing the breech-block in a depressed position. Fig. 3 is a detail view of a modified form of claw-lever. Fig. 4 represents a modification of a fire-arm, in which the stirrup and hooked hammer are dispensed with. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the claw-lever, stirrup, and handlever.

G represents the breech part or frame of a fire-arm, and H the barrel, which are of any suitable construction. The breech or closing block A moves in a vertical plane in a recess in the frame, and is formed with a chamber,

1, for the reception and movement of the upper portion of the curved hammer B, which is provided with a firing-pin or point, K, that is projected when the hammer is released by the trigger, through a central opening in the front face of the breech-block for exploding the cartridge or charge. The block Ais operated by means of a c1aw-lever,0,which is formed with a bifurcated rear portion, or parallel arms, projecting on both sides of the breech-block, and engaging with projecting studs a onthe sides of the same, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Said studs and Slotted arms may, however, be dispensed with, and a similar result accomplished by forming enlarged recesses in the sides of the block, as shown in Fig. 1., for the reception of the ends of the lever-arms. The claw-lever O has its fulcrum, or turns with the transverse spindle L of the external leverhandle E, which passes through the tubular shaft M of the claw-lever and in order to prevent the lever-handle turning independently of the claw-lever, I make the spindle L of a hexagonal or other angular shape, and. the 7 opening through the shaft M of a corresponding form. A round Spindle may, however, be employed, which is prevented from turning by a spline or feather. The claw-lever or its shaft M is formed in front of its fulcrum-point with projecting arms N, which carry a swiveled stirrup, D, through which passes the hooked rear prolongation d of the hammer D. O is an extracting device for expelling the discharged cartridge-shells, consisting of two vertical arms, P, and lower curved arms Q, located in rear of its fulcrum-pin B, for causing the descending breech-block to move the extractor in a rearward direction.

The operation of loading and firing an arm constructed as in Fig. 1 and 2, is as follows, viz: The lever-handle E, which is held in a locked position by a suitable catch on the side of the frame having been unlocked, is depressed by the hand of the operator, thus causing the claw-lever to turn upon its fulcrum, and its rear part or bifurcated arms to act either upon the studs or recess on the breech-block, thus effecting the descent of the breech-block for exposing the rear open end of the barrel to enable a cartridge to be inserted; Simultaneously with the descent of the breech-block, caused by the downward movement of the bi furcated lever-arms, the rear end or stirrup is elevated, and as it embraces the hooked end of the hammer, it causes the same to turn upon its fulcrum, for lowering the same, the main and sear-springs S T and trigger U combined with the trigger or guard plate E, acting in the ordinary manner to bring the hammer either to a half or full cock, according to the movement of the breech-block. The hammer being in a cocked position, and the cartridge inserted into the barrel, the lever-handle is elevated, causing a corresponding movement of the breech-block through the medium of the claw-lever, and as the stirrup is sufficiently large the claw-lever can turn upon its fulcrum without displacing the hammer. The breechblock having been elevated and the hand-lever locked, the piece is ready for firing, which is accomplished by pulling the trigger, thus releasing the cook, the point of which is then projected by the action of the main spring, through the opening in the front face of the breech-block for exploding the cartridge. The swivel for operating the hammer may be dispensed with, and the same result accomplished, '8. 6., the cocking of the hammer simultaneously with the descent, and by means of a sliding breech-block, in various ways. The hammer may be provided with projecting pins on both sides, which move in curved grooves in the inner side walls of the chambered breech-block, so that when the same is lowered, the upper portion of the groove abutting against the hammer-pins will bear against the same, and thus cause the hammer to turn up on its fulcrum for bringing it to a cocked position, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing. The breech-block is then raised and locked, and the hammer disengaged by the trigger, the proper movement of the same being permitted by the curved grooves in the breech-block. The same result is also effected by cutting the breech-block away underneath, so that when opening the breech it will bring the hammer into a proper position for firing.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by-Letters Patent, is-

The claw-lever 0, either with or without the stirrup-D, when combined with the breechblock A and hammer B, as and for the purpose set forth.

The above specification signed by me this 15th day of January, 1872.

JAMES ASTON. [L.s.]

Witnesses:

THOMAS MORGAN,

21 Cockspur street, London. R. MARSDEN LATHAM,

21 Cockspur street, London. 

